Striker plate



June 30,1942. E, DE SME T'; 2,287,978.

' STRIKER PLATE Filed June 12 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

June 30, 1942. E E s E 2,287,978

STRIKER PLATE Filed'June 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 3%,1942 STRIKER PLATE Edgard C. De Smet, Toledo, Ohio, assignor, by mesneassignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of the United States Application June 12, 1940, Serial No.340,137

7 Ciaims.

This invention relates to improvements in striker plates for doorlatches and more particularly to a stamped striker plate with a pivotedretainer especially adapted for retaining vehicle doors in closedposition.

The invention comprehends the provision of a striker plate means whichis simple and positive in its operation, yet one which permits the doorto be easily closed Without the use of excessive force.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a striker plate madeof metal stampings which is simple in construction, inexpensivea tomanufacture and stronger and more durable than one made from die castmetal or bar stock.

A further object of the invention is to provide a striker plate having asoft spring so as to offer very little resistance to the door closingoperation, as the latch bolt is not retracted by engagement with thestriker plate.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relates to the arrangement, operation and functioning of therelated elements of the structure, to various details of constructionand to combination of parts, elements per se, and to economies ofmanufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from aconsideration of the specification and drawings of a form of theinvention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of a vehicle door in its closedposition showing the latch bolt interengaged with the final step of thestriker plate;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the retainer partiallydepressed with the latch bolt interengaged with the safety catch;

Figure 3 is an elevational view showing the striker plate assembled to adoor pillar;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-1; in Figure 3 showinga side View of the striker plate assembled to the door pillar;

Figures 5 and 6 are details of the striker plate housing;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 inFigure 3;

Figure 8 is an isometric view of a spring forming a part of theinvention;

Figure 9 is an elevational view showing a modified form of my inventionassembled to the door pillar;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line l0l0 inFigure 9;

Figure 11 is a view similar to-Figure 10 showing the retainer depressedwith the latchbolt about to engage the final step of the striker plate;

Figure 12 is a bottom view of the striker plate showing the retainerlocked to the housing;

Figure 13 is an isometric view of a spring forming a part of themodified form of my invention.

While I have illustrated the arrangement of my invention as particularlyadapted for use with vehicle doors, it is to be understood that Icontemplate the utilization of the invention with any closure structurewith which it may be found to have utility.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in detail it will be seenthat the Vehicle door It] is made of sheet metal and is provided withthe customary door lock 1! and latch bolt l2. The door I0 is arrangedfor pivotal movement about hinges (not shown). When the door is in itsclosed position it matches with or engages the door pillar 63 also madeof sheet metal. The stationary pillar l3, of the vehicle is recessed atM. to accommodate the striker plate 15. The striker plate comprises twomain parts, the housing [6, and a retainer ll, which are made of metalstampings.

The base of the housing H3 is provided with holes H? to receive bolts i9which screw into nut 20 to secure the housing to the door pillar I3. Itwill be noted that the door pillar is provided with slots 2| toaccommodate bolts I9 to allow for adjustment of the entire striker plateassembly [5 inwardly or outwardly along the face of the door pillar. Athin non-metallic washer 20 is positioned between the striker'plate anddoor pillar to cause a gripping action when the bolts iii are tighteneddown. The forward end of the housing 16 is provided with a turned in lip22 which is concave on the inside. The

retainer I l is formed from a one piece metal" stamping as shownparticularly in Figures 1 and 2. At the forward end of the retainer themetal is folded back upon itself, forming a base portion 23 of theretainer which cooperates with the concave surface of the lip 22 to forma hinged connection between the retainer 11 and housing I6. It will benoted that apertures H are provided in the retainer and the folded backmetal 24 is cut away to clear the bolt heads l9 as illustrated in Figure3. The end portion of the folded back metal 24 projects outwardlyforming a safety catch abutment 25 to engage. the latch bolt [2. At therear edge of the retainer IT a turned back lip or keeper 26 is providedwhich is the final step of the retainer to latch the door.

With particular reference to Figures 3 and 4, the retainer I! isprovided with flanges 21. These flanges are notched out at 28 toaccommodate ears 29 struck out from the housing H5. The ears 29 areprovided with lips 30 turned in to cooperate with the flanges 21 whenthe retainer I1 is in its normal or out position and thereby limitingthe outward swing of the retainer. It will be noted that after theretainer I1 is assembled in the housing 16 the parts are securely lockedtogether in hinged relation by the ears 29. The retainer is held in itsnormal position by spring 3| shown in detail in Figure 8 which isarranged between the retainer I! and the housing IS. The base 23 of theretainer is cut back on each side so that the coil portions 32 of spring3! can be positioned within the turned in lip 22 of the housing, andwhen the parts are assembled the spring 3| is securely held in place.

The operation of the above arrangement of my invention is as follows:

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the lines AA show the path through whichthe end of the latch bolt swings. In the closing of the door the latchbolt 12 engages the inclined surface of the retainer forcing it back asthe spring 3| is weaker than the spring (not shown) which holds thelatch bolt in its extended position. In Figure 2 the latch bolt is showninterengaged with the safety catch 25 and the retainer I1 is depressedagainst spring 3|. With further closing movement of the door theretainer is further dcpressed until the latch bolt I2 had passed beyondthe innermost face or keeper 26 Then the retainer under the action ofits spring will snap back to its normal position securely holding thelatch bolt 12 in place which is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figures 9 through 13 inclusive, illustrate a modified form of myinvention wherein there is illustrated a striker plate having a stampedmetal housing adapted to be secured to a door pillar. The inner end ofthe housing is provided with a slot 33 to receive the turned back endportion or keeper 2B of the retainer 34. The hinged connection betweenthe housing and retainer is identical with the other form of myinvention, hereinbefore described. The safety catch is also formed inthe same manner, wherein the metal is folded back upon itself and theend of the metal projects outwardly forming the safety catch abutment toengage the latch bolt l2. At the inner end of the retainer, the metal isturned back to provide an abutment or keeper 26 for the latch bolt whenthe door is in its closed position. This metal extends through a slot 33in the housing, which is large enough to allow free movement of theretainer. The door pillar I3 is also provided with an opening 35 toallow the retainer to swing during the closing operation of the door.

The retainer is held in its normal position by spring 36 arrangedbetween the housing 31 and the retainer 34. An opening 38 is provided inthe retainer to accommodate the coil portion 36' of the spring, and whenthe parts are assembled, the spring is held in place. In order to limitthe outward swing of the retainer, the end portion projecting throughthe slot 33, is provided with ears 39 bent in so as toengage the bottomface of the housing when the retainer is in its normal position asillustrated in Figures and 12. It will be noted that ears 40 are struckup at the forward end of the housing to act as a guide preventinglateral movement of the retainer. In this form of my invention theentire striker plate assembly can be secured to a vehicle door in thesame manner as previousl described. It will be observed that myinvention can be readily applied to a door pillar without making anymaterial changes therein or substantial departure from standardpractice.

It is apparent that within the scope of the invention, modification anddifferent arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and Idesire therefore that the invention be limited only as indicated in theappended claims,

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a striker plate comprising a one piece yieldableretainer; a housing having a substantially flat base portion; means forsecuring the housing to a door pillar; said housing provided with aturned in lip to cooperate with said retainer to provide a hingedconnection; means associated with said housing including a pair of earsto limit the outward swing of said retainer; and spring means fornormally projecting the retainer.

2. The combination with a striker plate comprising a housing; means forsecuring the housing to a door pillar; a one piece retainer mountedwithin said housing; said retainer having a folded back end portion toprovide a safety catch abutment; means associated with said housingincluding a pair of ears for locking the retainer in hinged relationwith said housing; and expansive spring means for normally projectingthe retainer.

3. The combination with a door lock striker plate comprising a one piecestamped metal retainer having a folded back end portion to provide asafety catch abutment; a keeper on the inner end of the retainer adaptedto cooperate with a latch bolt; a stamped metal housing; means forsecuring said housing to a supporting structure; said housing having aturned in lip which cooperates with the retainer to provide a hingedconnection between the housing and the retainer; means associated withsaid housing including a pair of ears for locking the retainer in hingedrelation with said housing; and spring means positioned between saidhousing and retainer for normally projecting the retainer.

4. Th combination with a striker plate comprising a one piece stampedmetal retainer having a folded back end portion to provide a safetycatch abutment; a stamped metal housing having a substantially flat baseportion; means for securing said base portion to a door pillar; saidhousing having a turned in lip at its forward end which cooperates withsaid retainer to provide a hinged connection; a pair of cars projectingaway from said housing to limit the outward movement of the retainer;and spring means positioned between the housing and said retainer fornormally projecting the retainer.

5. The combination with a door lock striker plate comprising a stampedmetal housing having a substantially flat base portion; means forsecuring the housing-to a door pillar; a one piece stamped metalretainer pivotly mounted within said housing; said retainer having afolded back end portion to provide a safety catch abutment; a keeper atthe inner end of said retainer adapted to engage a latch bolt; means forlocking the keeper in hinged relation with said'base portion and springmeans positioned within the housing for normally projecting theretainer.

6. The combination with a door lock striker plate comprising a stampedmetal housing; means for securing the housing to a door pillar; a onepiece stamped metal retainer pivotly mounted within said housing adaptedto engage a latch bolt; said retainer having a folded back end portionto provide a safety catch abutment; a keeper on the inner end of saidretainer; means associated with said keeper including a pair of ars forlocking the retainer in hinged relation with said housing; and springmeans positioned within said housing for normally projecting theretainer.

7. A striker plate adapted for interengagement with a latch boltcomprising a stamped metal housing having a substantially flat baseportion; means for securing the housing to a door pillar; a one piecestamped metal retainer having a folded back end portion to providesafety catch abutment; said retainer pivotly mounted within saidhousing; an opening in said base portion; a keeper on the other end ofsaid retainer adapted to swing through said opening; means on saidkeeper to limit the outward movement of said retainer; and spring meansfor normally projecting the retainer.

EDGARD C. DE SMET.

